Flexible coupling



FLEXI BLE COUPLING Filed Oct. l5, 1954 @ff/Q: j

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ATTORNEY Patented Jan. 14, 1936 l l UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE FLEXIBLECOUILING John S. Tully, Modesto, Calif.

Application October 15, 1934, Serial No. 748,332

1 Claim. (Cl. 280-33A4) This invention relates to exible or swivel isdisposed with its axis at right angles to the couplings and particularlyto one designed for axis of the turntable and which also turnably usebetween a motor vehicle and trailer or bepass through a block Illprojecting between and tween a tractor and an implement and the like.extending a short distance rearwardly of the 5 The principal objects ofmy invention are to ears, and freely turnable about said pin as an 5provide a coupling for the purpose which is exaxis. tremely compact sothat it takes up but little TheA block rearwardly of the pin 9 is formedspace between the vehicles to which it is conwith a bore II extending atright angles to the nected; one which allows the trailer or implepin I0.This bore receives another pin or bolt 10 ment tongue to have thenecessary universal I2 which projects through the side plates I3 or 10movement relative to the draft vehicle; and one clevice of the traileror implement tongue and which is very simple and inexpensive and yetwhich straddle the block with just suilicient play has desirable sturdyand long wearing qualities. to enable them to turn about the bolt I2 asan These objects I accomplish by means of such axiswithout binding.

structure and relative arrangement of parts as It will therefore be seenthat regardless of 15 will fully appear by a perusal of the followingwhether the turntable turns so that the ears are specification andclaim. vertical or laterally spaced, and whether the bolt .y

In the drawing similar characters of reference I2 is horizontally orvertically disposed, the indicate corresponding parts in the severaltrailer tongue can swivel about the bolt I2 and views: the pin 9 incorresponding planes; while the 20 Figure 1I is a side elevation of myimproved coupling unit as a whole can swivel about the coupling partlybroken out, shown as applied xed plates and the frame lof the vehicle.Misto a motor truck. alinement of the vehicles due to road or groundFigure 2 is a sectional plan o-f theV device on inequalities, as well aswhen rounding curves, the line 2-2 of Figure 1. are therefore taken careof in an eicient man- 25 Referring now more particularly to the charnerand without possibility of binding. Also, acters of reference on thedrawing, the coupling due to the compact arrangement of the parts ofcomprises a pair of abutting plates I and 2 of the coupling, all saidparts are relatively small the same size and preferably square. Theplate and short so that the coupling as a whole takes I is provided witha circular centrally located up very little room and it may readily bemade 30 opening 3 of relatively large size while the plate to have thenecessary sturdiness to stand rough 2 is provided with a concentric butsomewhat treatment without being unduly heavy. larger opening 4. Theplates are adapted to be When merchandising the structure prior to itsdisposed in a Vertical position against the back being applied to thevehicles, the bolts B are cross frame 5 or similar member of a truck orused to hold the plates I and 2 together. Since other motor or draftvehicle, and to be secured the pin 9 which is also in place is longerthan to each other and to said frame by bolts 6 passthe diameter of theopening 3 the plates ob'- ing through the plates adjacent its corners orviously cannot be completely disassociated from outwardly of theopenings. the coupling unit and there is no danger of them The opening 4serves as a bearing for the becoming lost or misplaced. 40 swivel disc'I or turntable of the coupling unit. From the foregoing description itwill be read- 'I'his disc cannot move rearwardly owing to the ily seenthat I have produced such a device as shoulder formed in the plate Iabout the relsubstantially fulfills the objects of the invention ativelysmall opening 3, nor can it move foras set forth herein.

4.5 wardly owing to the backing provided by the While this specificationsets forth in detail the frame 5. The turntable disc is slightly thinnerpresent and preferred construction of the dethan the plate 2 so that itwill not be clamped vice, still in practice such deviations from suchagainst the frame 5 in connection with the detail may be resorted to asdo not form a deplates and which would prevent its freedom of parturefrom the spirit of the invention, as derotation. ned by the appendedclaim. 50

Projecting rearwardly from the turntable 1 Having thus described myinvention what I equal distances on opposite sides of the central claimas new and useful and desire to secure by axis thereof and in clearancerelation to the Letters Patent is:

side wall of the opening 3 are spaced parallel A flexible coupling for amotor vehicle havears 8. These ears support a king pin 9 which ing aframe and a trailer having a tongue and 55 clevice comprisingv a discadapted to rotatably engage with its forward face against a at verticalportion of the vehicle frame, spaced ears formed intgral with andprojecting rearwardly from the other face of the disc, a block turnablymounted between the ears for rotation about an axis at right angles tothe rotational axis of the disc, a bolt through the block rearwardly ofthe pivotal mounting thereof and at right angles thereto for turnableengagement with the trailerclevis and a mounting plate unit for thedisc, said unit comprising a plate of slightly greater thickness thanthe disc and having a, circular bore forming a bearing for the plate, aflange projecting from the plate over the outer edge o1 the rear face ofthe disc and means securing said mounting plate unit to the said vehicleframe.

- JOHN S. TULLY.

